News Releases

Make a big difference on small farms with winter workshops
URBANA, Ill. – Every small farm is different. Direct market farmers sending produce to local restaurants have different needs than homesteaders getting started with livestock for the first time. But small farmers, hobby operations, and backyard growers alike can always trust University of...
Low-maintenance, winter blooming holiday cacti are gift that keep on giving
URBANA, Ill. – With their vibrant, floral displays and low-maintenance needs, holiday cacti are a great holiday gift. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter cactus are each different species. They bloom reliably each year without much upkeep.  “Every December, one plant...
Remember electrical safety when decking the halls
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – While decorating can be one more thing to mark off an extensive holiday to-do list, take a little extra time when using electrical light strands or other plug-in decorations and while using a ladder. Holiday decorating-related injuries include those caused...
Make informed decisions on the farm with newest field research updates
URBANA, Ill. – Winter is a time for the agriculture community to pause and plan for the next growing season. Crop producers, consultants, and industry professionals can get the latest updates on Illinois crop production in person or online at the 2022 Crop Management Conference in January and...
Mental health matters: Learn how to respond when someone needs aid
URBANA, Ill. – Mental health and substance use issues are common. Nearly 1 in 5 U.S. adults lives with a mental illness according to the National Institute of Mental Health. From 1999 to 2016, 630,000 people died from drug overdose according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention....
DIY bottle terrariums make great holiday gifts
URBANA, Ill. – Winter is that time of year where gardeners rest and plan for spring. But with the holidays, why not make loved ones plant gifts? Impossible bottles, or bottles with an object inside that doesn’t seem like it can fit through the bottle’s mouth, have been things of...
Flower bulbs can bring colorful blossoms into the home during winter.
Flower bulbs can bring colorful blossoms into the home during winter. Illinois Extension offers online make-and-take bulb forcing program on Dec.1 During the winter it is nice to welcome some color and living plants to your home. Forcing bulbs to bloom during can be a fun activity....
Keep worms warm for winter vermicomposting
URBANA, Ill. – Vermicomposting or vermiculture, which is also known as worm farming, is the practice of keeping worms to produce worm castings or vermicompost. Vermicomposting is a natural process where worms digest organic matter and produce a waste product that is high in plant-available...
Grub attack could be just under the surface
URBANA, Ill. – Hundreds of dead and dying grubs littered the dirt Chicago sports field once covered in grass. Nancy Kreith, University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator...